Shower hairballs

99k · Sep 12, 2008

I need advice for a disgusting job that I have been appointed to. I have a house full of woman and our Kohler shower tub is very efficient at catching hair. Each week I need to remove the drain mechanism (heavy brass assembly that lifts out) and retains a fist full of hair, slime, and God knows what else. Every week I am reminded of this nasty task when I find myself standing ankle deep in water.

I'm tempted to just keep the assembly out and let the hair go down the drain.
The shower is on the second floor, copper waste pipes, 10' horizontal run to the stack, and lastly approx. 50' cast iron to the septic.

Will hair become entangled in plumbing, such as cast iron. Thanks.

Bombjay · Sep 12, 2008

NO! Bad dog!
Just put one of those plastic top hat looking drain strainers over it and inform everyone when they are done showering to kindly bend down and clean their hair from the strainer.

Sponsor · 2022-01-29T12:20:58-0800

Winslow · Sep 12, 2008

99k said:
I need advice for a disgusting job that I have been appointed to. I have a house full of woman and our Kohler shower tub is very efficient at catching hair. Each week I need to remove the drain mechanism (heavy brass assembly that lifts out) and retains a fist full of hair, slime, and God knows what else. Every week I am reminded of this nasty task when I find myself standing ankle deep in water.

I'm tempted to just keep the assembly out and let the hair go down the drain.
The shower is on the second floor, copper waste pipes, 10' horizontal run to the stack, and lastly approx. 50' cast iron to the septic.

Will hair become entangled in plumbing, such as cast iron. Thanks.

I usually remove the linkage then swish the end around in the toilet. The hair falls right off as long as it hasn't been sitting a long time and dried out from non usage of the shower. Good luck trying to get the woman clean up the hair themselves.

Wraujr · Sep 13, 2008

Try this Zip-It Product at HD

Have two girls and slow tub drain. Bought this at HD and boy does it grab hair clogs. Its called Zip-It. Ended up using on all sink and bath drains for preventive maintenance. Only good for hair in first 12" of drain..

[h=1]Cobra Products 00412BL Zip-It Drain Cleaning Tool[/h]
My daughter later admitted they were "stuffing" the hair down the drain to clean it up.....

99k · Sep 13, 2008

wraujr said:
Have two girls and slow tub drain. Bought this at HD and boy does it grab hair clogs. Its called Zip-It. Ended up using on all sink and bath drains for preventive maintenance. Only good for hair in first 12" of drain..

[h=1]Cobra Products 00412BL Zip-It Drain Cleaning Tool[/h]
My daughter later admitted they were "stuffing" the hair down the drain to clean it up.....

Yes I have seen the zip-it. I have no trouble catching the hair with the present drain mechanism, I would just like to let it go down the drain without being caught. I just don't know if it would make it all the wall to the septic. The next question is wether the hair would create problems in the septic system.

Redwood · Sep 13, 2008

It might not make it through the pipe...
Then you get to call someone like me to come and take it out...

I can write a bill that will make a cardiologist grab his chest...

Be glad it stops where it does!

Dunbar Plumbing · Sep 13, 2008

Hate me now

I sell Thrift on those types of chronic situations.

It will literally dissolve that hair on the crossbars with no problems.

I have a growing list that I supply that stuff to, ones that I trust to use it safely.

NOT a replacement for drain cleaning

99k · Sep 13, 2008

Redwood said:
It might not make it through the pipe...
Then you get to call someone like me to come and take it out...

I can write a bill that will make a cardiologist grab his chest...

Be glad it stops where it does!

I suspected cleaning was the lessor of the evils but was hoping otherwise. I have enough bills ... thanks.

99k · Sep 13, 2008

RUGGED said:
I sell Thrift on those types of chronic situations.

It will literally dissolve that hair on the crossbars with no problems.

I have a growing list that I supply that stuff to, ones that I trust to use it safely.

NOT a replacement for drain cleaning

I'll keep this is mind. I heard of another product called Clobber that will not only remove the clog but also the pipe

Mike Swearingen · Sep 13, 2008

Also, any good non-caustic, enzyme-based drain cleaner such as DrainCare will dissolve all organic gunk out overnight, including hair, and it won't harm your fixtures, pipes, or you.
You just run a little warm water in, pour in the recommended amount of DrainCare, let it eat overnight, and then flush it down with hot water the next day. I always start the flushing with a kettle of boiling water.
Works wonders. Easy. Inexpensive.
Good Luck!
Mike

Redwood · Sep 13, 2008

You guys suggesting chemical drain openers really need to...

Hair is some pretty tough stuff! Egyptian mummies 5,000 years old still have hair on them. put something strong enough in a drain to dissolve hair and it's going to China...

At best it will stripp the soap scum and sludge off the hair and allow the drain to flow for a while...

Gary Swart · Sep 14, 2008

I think the cheap bonnet mentioned earlier is the way to go. Then you need to set the ladies in the house down and flat tell them that they will use it and clean it after each use. Inform them that part of growing up is assuming responsibility for these kinds of things and that you are not their personal plumber on call to clean up after their bathes. I would assume they are aware of the problems of putting their sanitary pads or tampons on the toilet, so this could just be a continuation of this. I'm sure you can find a much more tactful way to address the subject with them than I have outlined.

99k · Sep 14, 2008

Gary Swart said:
I think the cheap bonnet mentioned earlier is the way to go. Then you need to set the ladies in the house down and flat tell them that they will use it and clean it after each use. Inform them that part of growing up is assuming responsibility for these kinds of things and that you are not their personal plumber on call to clean up after their bathes. I would assume they are aware of the problems of putting their sanitary pads or tampons on the toilet, so this could just be a continuation of this. I'm sure you can find a much more tactful way to address the subject with them than I have outlined.

The napkins is another saga. In 15 years we never had a back-up, now both 1st and 2nd floor stoppages and slow draining ... no one knows a thing about this. Urrr.

Dunbar Plumbing · Sep 14, 2008

Redwood said:
You guys suggesting chemical drain openers really need to...

Hair is some pretty tough stuff! Egyptian mummies 5,000 years old still have hair on them. put something strong enough in a drain to dissolve hair and it's going to China...

At best it will stripp the soap scum and sludge off the hair and allow the drain to flow for a while...

Heeeeeeeeeeey!

That picture brought back good memories!

(contacts sponsor immediately)

NHmaster · Sep 14, 2008

I have no problem with people using caustic chemical drain cleaners. We can always use the business.

Shower hairballs

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